Report: Randy Couture could face Fedor in early 2009

Things are moving quite fast with the Randy Couture situation these days. MMA Junkie has a scoop on possible negotiations for Couture to face Fedor Emelianenko in early 2009 contingent upon a victory over Brock Lesnar at UFC 91:

The long-rumored heavyweight superfight between UFC champion Randy Couture (16-8 MMA, 8-5 UFC) and WAMMA champion Fedor Emelianenko (28-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is currently being discussed for an as-yet-unspecified date in January or February of 2009.

Sources inside Couture’s Xtreme Couture camp today informed MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) of the ongoing negotiations between the UFC and both fighters.

Adding to previous speculation that Couture’s return may be on Nov. 15 at UFC 91 against Brock Lesnar, Xtreme Couture is also reportedly making travel arrangements to bring in several “larger heavyweights” as sparring partners for Couture.

Sources indicate the Emelianenko bout is contingent upon Couture defeating Lesnar in November.

Things are certainly heating up ladies and gentlemen. Couture vs. Lesnar could perhaps be one of the biggest UFC pay-per-views of all time and should he get past Lesnar then he’d be facing the man that he’s wanted to fight for the longest time, Fedor Emelianenko. Getting past Lesnar will be no easy task, however, as Lesnar is younger, quicker, and much bigger than Couture. A win over Lesnar is not a guarantee by any stretch of the imagination.

If this is true- and the UFC can actually sign Fedor- I do not see it mattering what happens in the Lesner fight. Chuck lost to Jardine and still got Wandy. You know if they are both under contract Randy vs Fedor will happen. And if GSP-Penn are on the same card it is going to get crazy PPV

I know that many different sites state are reporting so much Randy Couture news. I hear many saying that they have sources stating many different things……

But, I still wont believe it till UFC.com says it or Dana White tells all through an interview. People are getting carried away as if it is a GO!! Isnt all just still RUMORS with some credible sources saying that it is POSSIBLE, not defintie????

I just hope after stirring the pot like this that it is true!!! Because I have been teased enough!!!

Sorry to reign on everyones parade but Randy will not beat lesnar, he’s to strong and quick, and that will kill randy’s experience. I don’t wanna say it anymore than anyone else but that is what will happen. I wan randy vs. fedor just like everyone else but i don’t think he can beat lesnar.

I love Randy to death, and I picked him over Sylvia, and I picked Mir over Lesnar (even down to the round and finish) but I pick Lesnar for a Couture vs Lesnar fight. Lesnar is just too big, strong, and dominant a wrestler for couture to handle. He had a lot of trouble with Barnett and Rodriguez both of whom were bigger stronger grapplers, and I think he’s going to have even worse problems with Lesnar who is a much stronger wrestler than either of those guys.

Randy is a really experienced guy with incredibly technical clinchwork, takedowns, and dirty boxing but none of that will keep lesnar from holding him down and raining punches until the fight ends.

Lesnar by GnP TKO round 2

I still want to see Randy fight Fedor though, I think its a better matchup for him.

Damn. Lesnar vs. Couture would be an incredible fight. Couture is the master of the gameplan. He finds ways to make his opponent look foolish and clumsy. I bet he’s training submissions hardcore right now if he’s even thinking of stepping into the cage with Lesnar, though.

The Fedor stuff is too far away and too much rumor at this point. There’s so much it could mean for Affliction and the UFC *IF* it’s true. I’m doubting it will happen in the UFC. Maybe the UFC is planning to release Couture as long as he provides them with an incredible PPV and then Couture will be free to fight Fedor. I’ll believe that before I believe Fedor’s incredible demands are met by the UFC.

Is this April 1st? None of this makes any sense. First, the fight won’t happen in January, since Fedor will be fighting in Japan on Dec 31st. Second, Why would Randy risk injury fighting Brock in November for a Jan/Feb fight against Fedor? That is a lose/lose proposition. And last, why would Randy sign another long term contract with the UFC if he has spent the last year trying to get out from underneath them, plus he has a contract with Cuban’s HDFights once his current contract is finished.

Lesnar and Fedor will both pound Randy out. Randy is the most overrated fighter in the game. Who has he really beaten in the last four years? C’mon guys, this is hype central for Randy to make a shitload of money. Randy looked good in his last two fights with B-class opponents. Lesnar by his athletic ability alone will dominate Randy. Randy’s conditioning will not even be a factor.

OCD
that is what i said to an article that was posted yesterday and i couldn’t agree more. I like randy and i think he just needs to coach and gameplan for his fighters.
if lesner learns how to finish an opponent then he will beat randy unless he makes a serious mistake.
as for lesner or coture fighting FEDOR it doesn’t matter
FEDOR will beat eather man.

Ok people it would only be brocks 4th fight ever going up againce randy.Not a chance randy would oppose his will on brock..you guys are getting a bit carryed away.two of you said brock bye Gnp 2nd hahaha he didnt even finish Heath Herring.quit hyping him up.sure he is big and strong but that doesnt mean shit if you have technique.and brock will never be ufc champ as long as big Nog is there just common sence

What’s interesting in all of this (if its true) is that the UFC clearly believes they can get a much bigger buyrate out of Lesnar/Couture as opposed to Fedor/Couture. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t bother risking Randy before Fedor. But they know that Lesnar is ten times more well known to the average fan than Fedor is right now. So they’re making what they percieve to be their biggest money match in Lesnar/Couture, knowing the chances are high that Lesnar wins and then they never have to bother dealing with the insane negotiations that would be required to finalize Couture/Fedor…

If there is even a shred of truth to this, it makes me hopeful. It means Randy and the UFC are finally putting aside their issues and trying to find a solution that’s best for both of them, and the fans.

Can I ask everyone on here why they thinl Couture will last longer than 1 minute w Fedor??? Couture has a very modest record, got lucky and beat Liddell once and knocked senseless 2 other times. He bored all of us including Tim Sylvia to death! Lesnar crushes him like a soup can if they figjt! I think the fight we should all ask for is a catch weight fight with Anderson Silva! They matcup better for sure. Randy is a tiny heavyweight and both fedor and Lesnar are much much bigger physically! But besides his borefest w Sylvia someone tell me one fight Randy has had in last 5 yrs that lead u to believe he can beat Fedor or even Chuck again??v

you dont know what you talking about Randy might have been a bit boring along time ago but ever since he moved to LHW and Moved back to HW he has been amzazing to watch didnt you see him bust Gonzaga noise and destroyed him.. and then droping Tim right after the bell rang in the 1st.And bye the way Fedor is smaller or if not the same size as Randy so if your telling people he is to small to be in HW get your facts straight. And yes Randy did lose to bigger guys like Josh and Ricco but that was 2001-2002 he is a completely different fighter he is on another level then those years.Not at all overrated.. If you want to talk overrated talk about Lyoto or Shogun

traingleman um, fedor has about 7 lbs on Randy and they are exactly the same height.

Also, I’m not sure why Chuck is relevant here, styles make fights and MMA math doesn’t work. Whether he can beat Chuck is irrelevant to whether he can beat Fedor or Lesnar, because none of those three opponents uses the same style. He does better against fellow grapplers than against a striker with longer reach and a great sprawl, that much is documented.

And that’s why I think he’s going to do better with Fedor than Chuck, because Fedor likes to clinch and work on the ground which is where Randy does best, and they are virtually the same size. But he also has has a tough time with talented grapplers who are much bigger and stronger than him, like Ricco and Barnett, which is why I think he has a better chance with Fedor than with Lesnar.

no Randy is a bit taller not but much but he is about 1″ taller.Yes i agree Randy have a great chance of beating Fedor and Fedor has a great chance of beating Randy.Going to be the best fight i have ever seen. Hope it happens soon…

why doesn’t Randy get the respect he deserves. He is always a threat to win a fight, no matter who he is fighting. If you all haven’t learned that by now watching him over the years than you can’t call yourself a knowledgable MMA fan. I will say he is an underdog v. Lesnar and Fedor but by no means would i be stunned if he actually goes out and woops em both.

HexRei, by tiny I mean physically not lbs! GSP weighs 170 but is very big for a welterweight! Randy may be 7lbs less but do u see any shot in hell of Fedor cutting to Light heavy like Randy can? No way! And look at Fedors body, he looks to be on the chubby side! I love Randy and respect his skill and heart BUT I still do not feel he even belongs in the conversation with other s like Fedor and GSP and Penn in the P4P conversation! He is a great pioneer for the sport but let’s move on!!! I wanna see Anderson Silva vs Randy @ 200!!!!!

Fedor is chubbier, but I’m pretty sure Randy could put on some more fat if he felt like it. He stays at a low body fat level intentionally.

If you look at the pics and video of them posing for the Affliction shoot, I don’t see how any argument can be made that size will be a factor in their fight. What will be a factor is Fedor’s better subs, and Randy’s slight edge in the clinch. I also feel that Fedor is a harder puncher.

If the UFC was indeed going to sign fedor vs randy why would they risk the biggest PPV fight by putting randy up against a monster like Lesnar. If Lesnar wins all bets are off. Unless they want to make a lesnar fedor fight. Whoever wins fights Fedor.

who the hell really wants to fight Lesnar??
I am a 240 lbs very athletic guy but tell you what… I dont want to fight Brock. I saw what he did to Herring. Randy is smaller then Herring and I see him get KO’ed by guys at 205.
Randy wins vs Brock he is #1 contender for Fedor HANDS DOWN.
Brock beats Randy …. UFC gets their monster champion and Mir vs Big Nog becomes a #1 contender match

Personally I think Lesnar vs. Couture is a much bigger PPV than Couture vs. Fedor. Couture is one of the most well known mixed martial artists and Lesnar has a huge fan following from his WWE days. Fedor only has the backing and the draw of hardcore fans. It makes a lot of sense for them to make his first fight back be a fight against Lesnar.

Im going to make some mad cash betting against Couture against the Deathclutch beast! Whenever Lesnar enters any ring, he brings this magic and excitement! I’m not talking about the magic of baked beans either…

This is FANTASTIC any way you cut it.
Couture vs Lesnar would indeed be a huge fight. I just wonder if Randy could win it. The years cannot be held back forever, and Lesnar is no slow moving heavyweight like Tim Sylvia, he moves like a charging lion. And how do you stop a charging lion from taking you down? Well, large caliber rifles are not legal in MMA, obviously (sarcasm).

Lesnar, should he win, will jump positions immediately to the top of the heavyweight class to number 2 or 3, I think. And if he beats Fedor, well, you know he would be numero uno, not that he would win, that is.

If this comes to fruition, it will be an extremely good year for the UFC and MMA as a whole.

why are we forgetting the fact that randy first obligation would be the fight with nog to clear up the belt issue , or the winner of nog/mir. just cant have two champions walking around with no intentions of fighting each other.

Last I heard, the arbitration between Couture and UFC was still ongoing. Any info about whether it’s completed, or still proceeding? Rumors about negotiations make sense if the arb. hasn’t been completed or the arbitrator(s) haven’t ruled.

As far as Couture v. Lesnar goes, Couture has a great chance. Lesnar’s striking is still pretty primitive, and Couture caught both Sylvia and Gonzaga with big punches early in those fights. Sylvia never did recover fully. If Couture can land a big right and stun Lesnar early, Lesnar may not be able to shoot and then it’s a whole new fight that favors Couture.

What cracks me up is all this talk about Randy and Brock and the winner of them facing Fedor…You got the real 2nd ranked fighter in all MMA right in the same franchise as Brock and Randy yet Hes overlooked. By all means make a big issue of 1 of these 2 fighting Fedor but either before or after their BEATING from Fedor they will recieve another BEATING from Nogueira as well. You dont have to look outside the UFC to find someone who will own either of these 2 men.

It wont happen w/ UFC’s insistence on exclusivity that will torpedo any possible deal because I dont see Fedor giving up the adoration, the 50 million+ NYE TV ratings, commercial opportunities and millions of
dollars that the japanese lavish on Emelianenko Fedor every year nor do I see him shunning the fame, respect and adulation he commands in his
homeland thanks to sambo.

Affliction wont and cant stop Fedor from doing a one shot against Couture (heck, theyre probably all for it with both guys still selling shirts for them).
No way in hell the UFC wants a one shot.

BTw, neither penis chest or the 16-8 wonder can beat Nog. Beat Nog, then work your way to the top Randy.

first of all the ufc would not bring Fedor in for one fight and fight Randy while he is champ and chance him loosing and the UFC belt going to Afflection. So they have Randy fight Lesnar if he looses it is no big deal as Brock is a 300 lb Mussle and is younger so Randy would loose no respect. He then doesnt have the belt so if UFC signed Fedor or co promoted and Randy did loose it would not be a big deal. I think Randy will loose to Brock but he would beat Fedor. Fedor beat Tim in 36 sec Randy prety well did the same thing as he just about knocked Tim out then he just played with him for 5 rounds Tim said he did not remember anything after that first punch Randy just toyed with him the rest of the fight